John and Liz, local 'Walk Wheel Cycle Trust' (the organisation previously known as 'Sustrans' - more details below) volunteers kindly met us on a dark, drizzly evening with a car full of tools. With a few bright lights in position, after a good uphill run for some, we were soon clearing the leaves, mud and ivy off the cycle path to help keep the path clear and help prevent people skidding. A few walkers and a bike came through so nice to see the path is used. We had a good catchup and didn't want to leave(s) but we managed to make an impact on the path.

We learnt that...

The active travel charity Sustrans has officially changed its name to the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. The name change was implemented after a year of research to create a clearer and more accessible brand that immediately explains the charity's purpose. Along with the new name and branding, the organisation also launched a new five-year strategy focused on building and improving communities for walking, wheeling, and cycling. With a mission to deliver more joy per journey, more peace per pedal, more smiles per mile.

We look forward to continuing to work with The Walk Wheel Cycle Trust to contribute to improving our local communities to walk, wheel and cycle!

No need for a gym session today. Mammoth garden clearance was workout enough!

Today I helped out at local community garden Common Ground with their annual autumn garden clearance. They had 2 skips on site ready to be filled.

We spent a good couple of hours cutting back overgrown plants and clearing unused waste from the basement storage, punctuated by coffee and cake, provided by a next door neighbour. My main jobs were buddleia pruner, ferryer of cut branches to skip and chief "jump on skip contents to squash down and make space for more"-er

3 Goodgymmers joined other volunteers from Don Catchment Rivers trust to clean up a particularly grotty spot of the River Don.

We started with a safety brief and getting kitted out with wellies, high vis, life jackets, gloves and litter pickers. We then spent 3 hours picking litter and cutting back vegetation (with a well catered tea break in the middle)

Waterways clear once more for all the wildlife including fish, birdlife and otters! 🦆 🐟 🦦